Required Minimum Distribution Calculator
Computes the IRS-required annual withdrawal from your IRA or 401(k) once you reach age 73. Use it each year to avoid the 25% excise tax penalty for missing your RMD deadline.
About this calculator
Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) are mandatory annual withdrawals the IRS requires from tax-deferred retirement accounts starting at age 73 (per SECURE 2.0 Act). The core formula is: RMD = Account Balance (Dec 31) ÷ Life Expectancy Factor. The IRS publishes Uniform Lifetime Tables with these divisors; this calculator approximates them using the formula: divisor = max(1, 110 − age) for single filers and married couples with similar-aged spouses. For married couples where the sole beneficiary spouse is more than 10 years younger, the Joint Life Expectancy Table applies, using max(1, 110 − age − spouseAge gap) to produce a larger divisor and therefore a smaller RMD. A smaller divisor means a larger required withdrawal and more taxable income that year. Multiply the RMD by your effective tax rate to estimate the tax owed on the distribution.
How to use
Example: You are 75, single, with a $500,000 IRA balance as of December 31. Step 1 — Calculate divisor: max(1, 110 − 75) = 35. Step 2 — RMD: $500,000 ÷ 35 = $14,286. Step 3 — Tax owed at 22%: $14,286 × 0.22 = $3,143. Now try married with a spouse aged 60: divisor = max(1, 110 − 75 − (75 − 60)) = max(1, 110 − 75 − 15) = 20. RMD = $500,000 ÷ 20 = $25,000. Always use the prior December 31 balance, not the current account value.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I miss my required minimum distribution deadline?
Prior to 2023, missing an RMD triggered a 50% excise tax on the amount not withdrawn. The SECURE 2.0 Act reduced this penalty to 25%, and further to 10% if corrected within two years. The IRS can waive the penalty entirely if you can demonstrate the shortfall was due to reasonable error and steps are taken to remedy it. Beyond the penalty, failing to take your RMD means the untaken amount continues to grow tax-deferred, but the IRS is strict about enforcement, so setting a calendar reminder or automating distributions is strongly advised.
How is the RMD life expectancy divisor determined by the IRS?
The IRS uses three actuarial tables: the Uniform Lifetime Table (most account owners), the Joint and Last Survivor Table (when the sole beneficiary is a spouse more than 10 years younger), and the Single Life Expectancy Table (for beneficiaries inheriting an account). The Uniform Lifetime Table was updated in 2022 to reflect longer life expectancies, resulting in slightly smaller RMDs than the old table. This calculator approximates the Uniform Table divisor as (110 − age), which closely tracks IRS published values for ages 73–90 but may differ slightly; consult IRS Publication 590-B for exact divisors.
Do Roth IRAs require minimum distributions during the owner's lifetime?
No — Roth IRAs are uniquely exempt from RMD rules during the original owner's lifetime, making them a popular tool for tax-efficient estate planning. However, Roth 401(k) accounts were subject to RMDs until the SECURE 2.0 Act eliminated that requirement starting in 2024. Inherited Roth IRAs are subject to RMD rules for non-spouse beneficiaries under the 10-year rule. If you want to minimize forced taxable distributions in retirement, consider converting traditional IRA funds to a Roth IRA during lower-income years before age 73.